Santa Anita Derby field coming up light; McLaren Vale will not run

McLaren Vale, third in the Grade 2 San Vicente Stakes in February, will miss the Grade 1 Runhappy Santa Anita Derby on April 9, leaving the highly regarded Messier as trainer Tim Yakteen’s lone starter in the $750,000 race.

Yakteen said Friday that McLaren Vale remains in training, but did not mention a race goal.

“We’re in a holding pattern,” Yakteen said. “We’ll see how he works.”

The Santa Anita Derby at 1 1/8 miles will have a small field. Aside from Messier, who won the Grade 3 Robert Lewis Stakes at 1 1/16 miles by 15 lengths on Feb. 6 in his lone start this year, the field is expected to include Forbidden Kingdom, a two-time graded stakes winner this year, and two runners trained by Doug O’Neill – Happy Jack and Win the Day.

Forbidden Kingdom, trained by Richard Mandella, won the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes at 1 1/16 miles by 5 3/4 lengths in his first start around two turns March 5.

John Velazquez is booked to ride Messier, while Juan Hernandez has the mount on Forbidden Kingdom. O’Neill said Friday that Abel Cedillo will ride Happy Jack and that Umberto Rispoli has the mount on Win the Day.

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Messier and McLaren Vale were among a small group of horses recently transferred from trainer Bob Baffert to Yakteen in an effort to gain qualification for the Kentucky Derby on May 7 at Churchill Downs.

Baffert is ineligible to start horses in the 2022 or 2023 Kentucky Derby, owing to a decision by Churchill Downs management to suspend the Hall of Fame trainer from its famous race after 2021 Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit tested positive for a banned race-day medication.

Last year, Churchill Downs ruled that any Baffert-trained runners would be ineligible to earn qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby if they remained in his care.

The ban also applies to fillies for the Kentucky Oaks on May 6. Adare Manor, winner of the Grade 3 Las Virgenes Stakes at a mile by 13 lengths on Feb. 6, was recently transferred from Baffert to Yakteen in advance of a scheduled start in the Grade 2 Santa Anita Oaks on April 9.

Yakteen is a former assistant to Baffert who has operated his own stable for the last 17 years.